Apparatus for separating or filtering slimes.



PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

v D. J. KELLY. APPARATUS FORSEPARATING 0R FILTERING SLIMESQ IAPPLIOATION IILED MAY 8, 1905.

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@ No.s15,o21." Q v APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORPILTERING SLIMES.

' APPLIUATION I'ILED MAY8,1905'. I I

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PATENT-ED MAR. 13, 1906..

' a specification.

. 1- UNITE STATES {PATENT err-s. DAVID J. KELLY, OF sALr LAKE CITY. UAH. APP RATus FOR" SEPARATING onFln-rznme silmz s.

' I Specification of Letters Patent. r limio'n filed llay S, 1905.Serial No. 259,424..

To all who itvrt/ty concern;

Be it known that ,1, DAVID J KELLY, a citiat Salt or Filtering Slimes,of whiph the following is My invention relates'to an apparatusdeisigliiled especially to separate slimes fromw ch precious metals havebeen dissolved als in solution; and my invention consists of thepartsandthe constructions and combiscribe and claim.

, partof this specification, and inw nations of parts, which I willhereinafter de- In the. accompanying drawings, forming 'ch similarcharacters of reference indicate like parts throu hout the severalviews, Figure 1 is a,

side e evation of a slime-filtering apparatus my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan embodfyinig1 viewo a ter-frame removed, showing parts broken away.Fig. 3 is a side view of a filter carrier. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig.3, Show? ing filter-frames in position. Fig. 5 is an end I view of thecarrier.

Fi 6 is a cross-section of the filter-tank and ter-frames. -Fi s; 7

and 8 are details to be referred to. Fig. 9

in'the liquidin a state of solution. To-recover these precious metals byeffecting a' separationof the metal-bearing solution from and the liquidwhich holds the precious met-.

the worthless solid matter or slimei-tailingsby a filtering process isthe essential object ofthe present invention.

.In carrylng out my invention I employ a filter which I have foundparticularly useful formetallurgical work; but to this particular usethe filter is not limited, since it may be successfully employed inotherfields and substantially Wherever the separation of solids from fluidmatter is desired.

The filter includes a stationary tank A, set,

preferably, at an incline'and having a general cylindrical form,although it may have any other desired and suitable "cross sectional shae. vThis cylinder has one of its ends, pre erably the higher "one,permanently closed, while'the opposite or IOWOI' end is capable of beingopened and closed for'the urpose of. introducing and-removing the ter'the corrilgations.

nothing to frames. As my process involves substan xte'nding along theinner sides of the tank are appropriate track-rails a, upon whichPatented Mach 13,1 06.

tiallya filtration under pressure, I make the travel the wheels of acarrier B, having a substantially rectangular form, as shown in Fi s.

3, 4, and suitably interiorly braced. T- e carrier is connected with ormade a part of the lower or movable head of the tank, and

it-is designed to suppprt and carry the filterframes, which latter thewheeledcarrier, and

the removable head of" the tank constitutesubstantially; a unitarystructure, since the severalparts are so related that they'may bepositioned and removed relative to the tank,

- although the filter-frames proper are so connected 'to the carrierthat they may-be 'removed for-cleaning when desired and additionalframes substituted. s

The filter-frame I prefer to make in the form -'of.substantiallyrectangular bags or sacks C, interior to which are placed means forholding the sides of thebag's orsacks apart and to prevent theircollapsingl'inder the pressure which I prefer to employ 1n carrying outthe object of my invention and also to provide the necessary interiorspace for the Various internal means may be adopted for resistin theexternal pressure upon the sides of the ags or sacks, and a simple'andyet effective means'may be the plate 0, (shown in Fig. 2,) which hascorrugations in its surface forming channels along which the filtered v85 free movement of separated or filtered liquid.

liquid will flow. A woven wire or other fo- 2 with 'good results for thecorrugated plate. When using the .corrugated plate, the several fluidchannels --for'med by the corrugations.

may each connect with a slot in a longitudi nally-extendingpipe (1,whereby the latter serves as a common conduit or conveyer for all liquidpassing through the bags or fibrous sides of the filter-frames and intoand along sufficiently apart to admit filtration, saidbagsjbeingcompletely closed and admitting other flexible" material or throughthe open .raminous interior plate may be substituted v pass from theoutside except through the interstices 1n the canvas or' end of thepiped, which latter has its. open end connected by a coupling or unionto a pipe e, which passes throu h the lower removable head .of the tankBy reason of theforegoingconstruction when the filter-' be driventhroughthe bag orfibrous sides of clined track :or surface the filterand will flow along the corrugations of the interior plateinto the ipe dand be delivered outside the tank, whi e the solid matter containing theprecious metals will. be collected u on the outside of the bags orfibrous sides the filter.

I The tank'A may-.be supported upon any suitable form of framework, (notshown,)' and in line with the internal track-rails is an inf u on whichthe wheeled carriers B travel when being removed from or introduced intothe pressuretank, as I will hereinafter describe.

E represents a pressure-tank, into the upper head of which a pipe Jleads from some slime-supply, prefera ly a tank above, (not shown) saidpipe havin a controlling-valve 8, which is opened to a mit the slimesul'to fill the tank. When the tank E is l'e the overflow will pass throughthe pipe S and into andalong the pi e X, whose valve 3 will then'beopen" and enter a second tank F through a valve-controlled pipe U.With thetanks E and F filled and the valves 3 and 5 of pipe X open theslime-pulp is permitted to pass along the pipe X and enter thefiltertank Aywhich is in turn filled, thereby completely submerging thecontained filterframes. "In filling the filter-tank provision is made inthe form of an air-cock for permitting the escape of the displaced airin the tank and for indicating when the tanks all are full, similarmeans 17 18 being provided the tanks E and F, respectively, for theescape of the air displaced by filling these tanks with the slime-pu S Apipe H eads from some suitable comresse -air su p13, andvalve-controlled ranches lead i'iom this ipe and connect with theseveral tanks. ih the tanks E F these branch es R T extend to a pointnear the bottom of the tank and close to the slimei esS U. The slimeipealso has a branc which is in line with tank E and connectswiththefilter-tank at its upper end, said branch having a controlling-cock Z,and the compressed-air pipe has a branch W, also connecting with theupper end of the filter-tank and having a controlling-cock 12.

The operation of the a paratus as thus far described may be stategenerally to be as follows: In startin filtration the valves 1 2 3'4 onthe slimeine are opened, likewise the air-valve 11 in the branch pipe T,leading into the tank F, whereby the compressed air asses down the pipeT and, issues'from the lhwer end, nearthe bottom the pipe S ofserve tomaintain the slime in this tank in a state of agitation. Theair-pressure in this tank F forces the slime through pipe U and opensvalves 4, 3, and 1 in the order named and thence alon pipe V into thefilter-tank A. In this tan separation of liquid from solid matter occursand the clear liquid finally escapes through the pipe d, while the solidmatter cakes or collects upon the outer sides of the filter-bags C. 'Asit is necessary to prevent the slimes from settling and accumulating onthe bottom of the tank A, I prefer to incline this tank so that the settlings will gravitate to the lowest point of the tank, and thisaccumulated slime may be drawn off when desired by closing the airvalve11 and slime-valve 3 :and opening the air-valve 10 to allow thefilter-tank to receive a slimesu ly direct from the tankE through thepipe Now allow the accumulated compressed air in the top of the tank Fto escape by opening the air-cock 18 thereof and then 0 en the valve 5of slime-su ply ipe X an the slimes will pass out of the ower end of thefilter-tank A through the pipe X and into the tank F through pipe U, theamount of slime thus passing into the tank F being displaced by a supplyfrom the tank E flowing into the higher or upper end of the filter-tank,thereby producing practically a circulation in the filter-tankandpreventing an accumulation of slimes in this tank, except what iscollected upon the exterior of the bags or filtering sides of thefilterframes. The valves 5 and 8 can again be closed and the air-cock 17in tank E opened to permit the escape of accumulated, compressed air inthe top of this tank, when the slimeulp in tank will pass through thepipe and along pipe X and down pipe S and at the same time up pipe V andinto the filter-tank. In general it can be said that by a propermanipulation of the several valves a circulation of the slimes may beobtained in the filter-tank and at the same time brin ing freshagitatedslime-pulp in contact wit the filters, which pulp enters thehigher end of the tank A and after coming in contact with the filtersides is drawn off at the lower ortion of the tank. When suflicientslime has accumulated on the canvas or other out off by closing thevalves 2 and 3 and the air-controlling pressure in either of the tanks Eand'F.

The tank D contains water or a weak leaching solution which is admittedthrough the pipe I, having a controlling-valve 7, said tank having abranch Q of t e sl-ime-pipeX entering its top and extending to a po ntnear the bottom, said branch p1 e Q having a controllingvalve 6. A brancH of the com ressed-air pipe H also enters the tank D of the tank, and

and as the controlling-valve 9. Now when rises in thetank in the form ofbubbles, which fibrous sides of the filters, the slime-supplyis 1 5 7 12is opened; 'The excess solution in. the v tank A is made to pass back tothe tank Dlby in the. tank D forces the water, or weak solu tion out ofthis tank andinto the filter-tank,

the valves 2 -anjd' 3 being nowjclosed and the 5 valves 1 and 6 beingen, At the same time the excess of 'slime-pu p in the tankAis, drawnofifback intothe tank ,F, being-displaced by the solution'from the tankD. f 'The'accumw,

lated'slime on the filters is built up to make an evenly-resisting mass,the pressure having been the same at all points on the filter dur-. ingthe building up, and said built-up mass isin a conditionto be uniformlyleached'by the f solution from" the tank D. After sufficient leachingthevalve 6' is closed and the valve o 'ening the valves and 8 (the valve6 being t en open) and closing the valves 1, 2, and {L When all the liuid in the filterrtank isdisplaced by air,; t e valve -5'-is closed andthe air is forced through the slimeon the filter,

thereby dryin the same ,iand when the slime is 'sufiiciently' ry theairsupply is shut oil by thefilter-bags.

rangement of a this head and" flange the two-part clampingring G'of Fig.7 is placed, it having an inte- 4 riorgro'oveto embrace said flange andhead. By loosening the nut on the-pivoted bolt '36 of the clamping-ringarid swm'gingthe bolt out of the slot '31 in the clamp the two partsofsaidclampmaybe ,op'enedout or sepa 1 rated about the -hingedconnection 32 and' then removed from. the tank, thereby unlocks ing-thelower head;- When this is done, the

wheeled carriage with the attached head is -freeto' pass down theinternal tracks a'andout'onto-rtheexterior'track f far enou hto'allowthe slime'to beremoved from. the ter-' frames, Inpassin 'out ofthe filter-tank the' carrier. raises a .weig lit 25, @(of which therewill be oneon each side,) which is connected by a re e or connection 24with the'axis' of the front IOleIS'Of the carrier. B, said repe havingone or more turns around a'pulley 22, journaled on the outside of thetank-A and having a strap orband-ibrake't around its outer endcontrolled by a lever 31; The pulle .22is provided with a'crank handleby w 'ch it may be turned to raise the weight and allow the carrier andfilter-frames to'emerge from the' 'ta'nk when it is necessary todo soand 'when there is no accumulation of slime on the filter-frames.When-there is no slime on 6 5 the filter frames, the weight 25 isheaVy'base to t e pipef30, leading'from the comfalls into a carer. other suitaclosing the valve 12. The tank is then 0 ened j by the removal ofitslower head and t e'ac cumulated slime removed from the sides of.

- 1 In Figs. 1', 4, 5, and 6 I illustrate the ar-; series offilters:,and ,a means abled to move the carrier in and out of'thefilter-tank, As before stated,

the tank, whichhea'd fits into afianged por-" I claim asne'w, and,desire to secure by Let'- "enough to 1111 the cal-halted its I; backiIitO} t e tank A; but'whenthe'filter framesare'loaded with slimetheextra wei hi? of the latter issufiicie'nt to elevate-the weig t, andno power isrequired to move the carrier in and out when thefilter-pressis operatin When the carrier is-removed fromthe ta Afar'enough to-give free. access -to'v the filter-,- frames, the slime isremoved, andfor this .op-" ferationLfind the device of Fi 9 very useful;

. said'device consisting of ahol ow pipe 0, with" I a flattened nozzlep, which discharges a thin streamof compressedfair when connected to anair-su ply, as whenit is connected by'a ressed-air-supply-pipe v Hbefore described. TI' he flattened nozzle is designed to. bejrun b tween.the caked-slimeand thewanvas or fibrous material of the filter-framesand in I i this way-detach the adhearin slime,.which le receptacle"placedto receive j" t When the lime 's removed, the canvas 'is.

further cleaned, if necessary, by directin a fstreampf wateror solutiona ainst its si es, 2 after which the brake is're eased andthe weight '25pullsthe carrier and-frames into the tank again, the glam Gis' putiniposition; I and tightened ,and the ter is ready for re'- p'eating theoperation of colleeting the slimes 5 and "se arating the cl'earliquid.In ig. 6 one of he filter-frames is shownwith its accumulated slimes!The slime can 'be of a thickness or the frames can be-as close togetheras to leave a space between. the -;frames sufficiently wide to providefor'acirculation between. them when slime hasa'cv cumulated to maximumthickness. s I The outlet-pipes aloof all the filters of the seriesareshown'connected to a pipe 19, which 'isya simple and convenient arranement if f air, steam, water, or solution is to e forced.

into theinside of the filter-bags for the pur- 1 pose of'furthercleaningthem. The pipes e, which couple to the i ed, are each provided with avalve 20, an -t epipe -1-9 has a valve.

:14, which arrangement permits me'to ascer- 1 -tain if the solution-is.clearthat is," to see if.

any slimeis leaking thrqu h'the filters-"-and if so to but off theparticu ar filter by means ofthe valve or cut-0332, of which there isvoneineach'of'the said coupled pipes.

' Hav1ng thus-described my invention, what i closed tank, a carrierslidably mounted there :5 I

insaid'carrier containing a'filter medium,

means for supplying the slimes to the tank I under pressure whereby theliquid carryingtheprecious metals in solution are forced through thefilter while the worthless solid 0 a Inc'- matter is collected upon theoutside of the filter, and a ipe or conduit through which the separatediquid is delivered outside the tank.

2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of aclosed vessel, a slimes-supply connecting therewith and adapted to fillthe tank with metal-bearing slimes under pressure, a carrierwithin andslidably mounted relative to the tank and a filter medium supported onthe carrier so that it will be submerged in the slimes whereby theliquid carrying the precious metals in solution is se arated from theslimes-tailings while the shmes are under pressure.

3. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of aclosed tank or vessel, a filter supported therein out of contact withthe inner walls, a movable carrien for the filter slidably mountedwithin and relative to the tank, means for filling the tank withmetal-bearing slimes under pressure whereby the liquid bearing themetals in solution are driven through the filter and the worthless solidmatter is collected upon the outside of the filter, and an outlet fromthe filter for the separated li uid.

4; In an apparatus 0 the character described the combination of aninclined, closed tank capable of holding slimes under? pressure, afilter supported in the tank out of contact with the inner walls thereofsaid filter having fibrous filtering sides exposed to the slimes underpressure, a carrier for the filter said carrier being slidably mountedwithin and removable endwise from the tank, means for filling the. tankand submerging the filter with slimes while under pressure whereby theliquid bearing the precious metals in solution is driven through saidsides and thereby separated from the slime-tailings, and a ipe leadingfrom the filter to the outside 0 the tank and forming a discharge forthe filtered liquid.

5. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of aninclined closed tank capable of holding slimes under pressure, a carriermovably mounted in said tank,

filter-frames supported on the carrier and having fibrous sides exposedto the slimes, means for filling the tank with slimes under pressurewhereby the fluid matter is forced through said filter sides and theworthless 'solid matter accumulated on the outside of the filter, andmeans'for delivering the separated fluid outside the tank, said tankhaving a removable closure at one end, allowing the withdrawal of thecarrier andv affording access to the filter-fram es carried thereby.

-6. In an a pparatus .of the character described, the combination of atank closed on all sides except for one end, a carrier movable into andout of the tankfand carrying a memher which i'orms'a closure for theopen end of the tank, means for rigidly securing said closure to thetank when the carrier is within swam , the tank, filter-frames s'uported on the car'- rier and having fibrous fi tering sides, meanswithin the frames and supporting said sides from outside pressure, meansfor filling said tank With metal-bearing slimes under pressure wherebythe fluid matter is driven through the filter sides and the worthlesssolid matter accumulates on the outside of the sides, means whereby theseparated liquid is deliverable to the outside of the tank. 7. In anapparatus of the character described the combination of a tank closed onall sides except one end, a guideway in the tank, a carrier adapted totravel on said guideway, a closure for the open end of the tank, andmeans for securing said closure after the carrier is in position in thetank, a pressure-filter supported on the carrier out of contact with theinner sides of the tank, means for filling the tank with metal-bearingslimes under pressure whereby the liquid containing the metals insolution is forced through the sides of the filter, means within theframes sup orting the filter sides against the pressure 0 the slimes,and means for conducting the separated liquid from within the frames tothe outside of the tank.

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a tankclosed on all sides except one end, a movable closure for the open endof the tank, a carrier slidably mounted in the tank and having apressure-filter supported out of contact with the inner sides of thetank, means for admitting slimes to the tank under pressure whereby thefluid matter is forced through the filter while the solid mattercollects upon the outside of the filter, means for conducting theseparated fluid to the outside of the tank, said tank being inclined toform a settlingchamber at the lower end, and means for removing thesettlings in said chamber by pressure from within the tank.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of aclosed tank, a pressure-filter within the same, a carrier for the filtersaid carrier movably mounted within and removable endwise from the tank,a slimes-tank and fluid-pressure means for filling the first-named tankwith slimes under pressure whereby the fluid matter is separated fromthe solid matter. 7

10. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of aclosed tank, a pressure-filtertherein, a tank into which slimes arefirst delivered, an overflow-tank and a valved connection between thesame and the slimes-tank, valved connection between the overflow-tankand the lower end of the pressure-filter tank whereby the latter may befilled from the overflow-tank, and communication may then be shut offbetween the overflow-tank and the pressure-filter tank, means connectingthe overflow-tank with the upper end of the filled pressure-filter tank,and

ii 5 "13. In an apparatus of.

4 amour means. for generating a pressure the over-,

flow-tank and a 'itating the slimes fihlflfl;

and delivering said slimes while under pres-1 pressure-filter therein,said,ftank'being in- .clined whereby asettling-chamber is formed to inits lower portion, a tank adapted'to con tainshines, a pipe connectingsaid slime'ss containin tankfwith' the lower-end of thepressure tertank,;an' overflow-tank and a pipe leading thereto from theslimesgsupgly pipe, a compressed=air pipe having brances tank, and meansforcutting out the overflow-- -tank" from the 'slimes-supply and the:air-.

- pressure, means fdr-reducmg the pressure-in the overflow-tank :andmeans for establishing connection between thist'ankla'nd the lowerportion'of the pressure-filter-tank,and.

means for deliveringv slimes under pre'ssure direct from the slimes-tankto then per por- '25 tion of the ressure-filte'r'tank'forisplacingjthe'ac'cumu ations in the settling-chamber of the pressure-filtertankand conducting the 'settlm s back totheoverflow-tank.

' 12. in an apparatus of the character'de o scribed the ucombinationwith 'a' closed inclined tank containing a pressure-filter, of a seriesof closed tanks, one of which contains slimes, and another a leachingsolution pipe connections between theseries of tanks'and d 5 thefilter-tank with valvesqby which any one or more of-the-series of tanksbe c'utofl 0 g? I -from the others and from the ter-tank, a

compressed-air pipe having yalve-controlled branches. leadingi nto theser es of tanks for .winducihg a "pressure"therein,' a valve-congtrolledconnection between the first-namedpipe and theup er end of thelter-tank, and avvalve-control ed connection-between the saidfilter-tank andvthe corn r'essed-air pigs.

t ve charact r, escribed the com ination with-means for sup-V plying;vslimes under pressure, of an'in'clined tank closed exce tatone en :1,said tank hay.- ing internal gui e-rails,'a carrier mounted on', 5osa1d'rails, said carrier having a member 'ada ted to form a closur'efoifth'e' open endof t e tank, a filtersuppo'rtedaon'the-carrier andcomprising anopenframe,.and-filt'ermg; v

frame and receivingthe ways, a pipe connecting withthe outer" end fabricinelosing the same,

I sfii ies of the filter agalnst pressure from withou said plate alate'wi'thin the a [frame andsupporting the fa ric having a. channeledsurface formin runways for filtered liquid, andapipeexten ing alon' thefilter-frame-and into which the :severa Y runwa s of the plateempty.

14. n an ap aratus of the character-described, the com inationwith'means fors'up- .plymgsllmes under pressure, of, an inclined tankclosedv except atone end, guide-rails within thetank, a carrier mountedon said this closure ,tofj the runways for "t e filtered liquid, and aconduit extending alon the filter into which the several runwaysof t'e-plate empty.

15. 'Inan apparatus of the character scribed the combination with aninclined tank closed except at one endand having internal' guides of acafiier-mounted within the tank and having its front forming a closurefor the-open en I a ably-locking the closure to the tankya track outsidethe tank andi'substantially in line rails and having its front endserving as-a closure for the open end of the tank, means. for removabllo'c'kin eadmg into the slimes-tan'k and overflowof the tank, meansdetach-- 4 8o with the internal guides, and acounterbal ance connectedwith the carrier, said 'Tcounterbalance having less 'powerthan theweight a of the loaded filter and carrier and greater power'than theweight ofan empty filter and carrier.

16. In an ap aratus of the character de--' scribed the com inationwithmeans'forsup plying shmes under pressure, of aninclined tank, acarrierthereon,

the carrier, and comp'risin a series of frames each having fibrousfiltering-bags and -an1in-' zternal plate with runways uid, a conduitextendin alonlgTeachfilterliquid om the runor'separated-liqofeac'hconduit and-a test-cockfor said pipe. H

fWitnessesi v I C. W. JOHNSON, V -V. P. HISKEY.

. agyressulefilter on DCAVID J..-KELL

